News reporters typically make an effort to verify the "facts" that they publish. Editorial writers apparently labor under no such restrictions. Consider the following specific examples from The Tribune editorial:
"IPP wants to increase its capacity by building a third 900-megawatt unit, approved long ago to meet environmental standards that are now 25 years old." The permit for the third unit was issued by the state of Utah in Oct. 2004, and requires IPP to use the best emissions control technology available. The permit remains the most stringent in the United States, far exceeding federal environmental requirements. For example, the permit limits mercury emissions to only 40 percent of what is allowed under new mercury emission regulations issued by the EPA in 2005.
"Air pollution from the IPP complex already contributes to the health problems of Utahns and their neighbors." At a public hearing held April 29, 2004, Dr. Stephen Shamo, a member of the Millard Hospital Board testified that studies on respiratory diseases have been conducted in Millard County where the IPP generating stations are located. All classes of respiratory problems are below the state average in Millard County and they have not increased during the 18 years IPP has been in operation in the county.
This kind of point-by-point rebuttal of misleading and outrageous statements could continue, but the bottom line is this: The state of Utah has already done what The Tribune editorial suggests in imposing stricter pollution standards on coal-fueled power plants.
The Intermountain Power Project's existing two-unit power plant is the second cleanest coal-fueled power plant in the western United States, according to published data of the North American Energy Reliability Council. For example, its sulfur dioxide emissions per kilowatt-hour of electricity produced equal only 14 percent of the emissions of the average U.S. coal-fueled plant. The Utah permit for the new unit at IPP requires even lower emissions.
The Tribune's editorial opines: "Good sense tells us it is foolhardy and dangerous to proceed." What is foolhardy and dangerous is proceeding based solely on information from special interest groups. Our energy and environmental future depend on more thoughtful analysis.
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Reed Searle is general manager of Intermountain Power Agency.
